Written Answers Wednesday 17 March 2010

Scottish Executive

Blind and Partially Sighted People

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure consistency in the provision of aids and equipment to blind and partially sighted people.

Shona Robison: New guidance on the provision of equipment and adaptations was issued on 1 December 2009. This guidance aims to promote a consistent approach to assessment of need, and the provision of appropriate services, including equipment and adaptations to all care groups.

  The guidance is available at http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/publications/CC2009_05.pdf.

  The government is providing £2.2 million over this, and the next, financial year to pilot seven "one-stop-shop" models of sensory impairment service delivery. One key aspect of the "one-stop-shop" is the provision of aids and equipment at a local level, with additional information and support on what aids are available and appropriate for someone.

Blind and Partially Sighted People

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any analysis has been conducted on the provision of aids and equipment to blind and partially sighted people and what its position is regarding the consistency in the provision of such items across local authorities.

Shona Robison: There has been no specific analysis of the provision of aids and equipment to blind or partially sighted people. The Scottish Government continues to work with our third sector partners in ensuring that people who require aids and equipment will receive appropriate equipment.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32252 on 17 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Blind and Partially Sighted People

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it (a) has considered or (b) would consider issuing formal guidance to local authorities on the types of aids and equipment that should be available to blind and partially sighted people.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Executive issued new guidance on the provision of equipment and adaptations by NHS and local authority partnerships on 1 December 2009. This guidance is applicable to all care groups, including those with a sensory impairment.

  To accompany this guidance the Scottish Executive has also developed a Good Practice Guide for the Provision of Community Equipment, and a Self Evaluation Tool which accompanies this guide.

  The guidance and associated toolkits are available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/EandA/UsefulPublications.

  Furthermore, during the equipment and adaptations consultation period the importance of utilising Telecare was highlighted. A training resource for use with Telecare for people with Sensory Impairment has now been developed. A formal launch of this workbook will take place on 26 March 2010 at the Sensory Impairment Clinic in Falkirk.

Blind and Partially Sighted People

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue, in association with organisations representing blind and partially sighted people and COSLA, a core list of community aids and equipment for blind and partially sighted people that all local authorities should provide.

Shona Robison: New guidance, issued on 1 December 2009, encourages local health and social care partnerships to agree the range of equipment and adaptations they will provide, for all care groups, including those with a sensory impairment, and the funding streams for these.

Class Sizes

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal powers local authorities have at their disposal to implement its proposals to reduce primary one class sizes to a maximum of 25 before the beginning of the 2010-11 academic year.

Michael Russell: Class size maxima for primaries one to three are set out in The Education (Lower Primary Class Size) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. It is for local authorities to set class sizes subject to these limits taking into account local circumstances and parental choice.

Class Sizes

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what legislative steps it has taken since May 2007 to reduce the legal limit of primary one class sizes.

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what legislative steps it has taken to reduce the legal limit of primary one class sizes since the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning announced on 23 September 2009 that local authorities were to be given the legal protection that they required to limit primary one class sizes to 25.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government announced on 10 March that a consultative exercise on regulations to limit primary one classes to a maximum of 25 would commence on 19 March 2010 with a view to making regulations, subject to parliamentary procedures, in the autumn.

Domestic Abuse

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-9413 by Alex Neil on 4 February 2010 ( Official Report c. 23526), what progress has been made in the discussions with the relevant support organisations to provide a domestic abuse helpline for men.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government recognises that men who experience domestic abuse from their female partners, and men who are abused by same sex partners, also require a service specific to their needs.

  For this reason a decision was taken recently to provide funding for a specific helpline for male victims of domestic abuse in Scotland. This will be rolled out in conjunction with a helpline for perpetrators of domestic abuse.

  Both the Men’s Advice Line and the Respect Line will be officially launched in Scotland on Wednesday 17 March.

Drug Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many adults in the City of Edinburgh reported using drugs in the last month in crime and justice surveys in the last three years, broken down by type of drug.

Fergus Ewing: This information is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey does not provide data at local authority level.

Education

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children were registered to be home-schooled in each of the last five years.

Michael Russell: There is no requirement for home educated children to be registered. Statistics showing the number of home educated children educated outwith school are published each year with tables showing the numbers of children receiving education outwith school under various categories. The latest publication for school year 2008-09 can be found on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/10/26154423 . Previous years are also available. This publication is also available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, (Bib. number 50387).

Education

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it issues to parents who home-school their children.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government published guidance aimed at home educators and local authorities entitled Home Education Guidance , in December 2007. This publication can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/17133313/0 on the Scottish Government website. Copies of this guidance are also available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44485).

Education

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it issues to local authorities on monitoring the progress or needs of home-schooled children.

Michael Russell: Section 4.2 of the Scottish Government’s Home Education Guidance  sets out that authorities should make contact on an annual basis in order that they may be assured that a home educated child is receiving an efficient and suitable education. The guidelines also sets out that should an authority have concerns concerning the education of the child at any time then contact should be made to resolve these concerns. A copy of the guidance is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44485). It can also be found on the Scottish Government’s website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/17133313/0 .

Education

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it issues to local authorities on inspecting teaching arrangements for home-schooled children.

Michael Russell: It is entirely a matter for home educators to decide how a child receives home education. Local authorities may, and often do, provide assistance to home educators with regard to teaching materials, although they are under no statutory obligation to do so. Authorities do have a duty to ensure that children who have been withdrawn from school continue to receive an efficient and suitable education and appropriate contact will be made to that effect.

Education

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it issues to local authorities on the required qualifications for someone who teaches a home-schooled child.

Michael Russell: There are no qualifications required to home educate a child. However, section 30 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 sets out that it is the duty of parents to provide efficient education suitable to the age ability and aptitude of the child. Local authorities have a duty to ensure that where children have been removed from school, such an education is being provided.

Education

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it issues to local authorities on setting the minimum number of teaching hours required for a home-schooled child.

Michael Russell: There are guidelines issued to authorities on setting the minimum number of teaching hours required to home educate a child. However, section 30 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 sets out that it is the duty of parents to provide efficient education suitable to the age ability and aptitude of the child. Local authorities have a duty to ensure that where they are aware of children being home educated, such an education is being provided.

Education

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions ministers have had with the UK Government in respect of the Report to the Secretary of State on the Review of Elective Home Education in England, published in June 2009.

Michael Russell: Ministers have had no discussions with Westminster in respect of the report as it concerns changes to the provision of education in England and Wales and as such has no relevance to Scotland.

Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in developing a geography baccalaureate.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered including geography in the science baccalaureate.

Michael Russell: During the development of the Scottish science baccalaureate, my predecessor considered whether geography should be part of the baccalaureate and decided that it should not. However, geography can contribute to the Interdisciplinary Project and the SQA was asked to explore whether the baccalaureates should be extended to other subject areas. The focus of SQA’s work to date has rightly been on developing and supporting the implementation of the Scottish science and languages baccalaureates. With regard to the scoping of baccalaureates in other subject areas, SQA will begin work this month, with a view to having a proposal early summer and a potential start date of August 2011. This timescale will also allow for a review of the two existing baccalaureates before launch of a possible third. The geography sector will be involved as part of this process.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what role the National Qualifications Steering Group has in the development of the Curriculum for Excellence and the new national qualifications.

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Qualifications Steering Group last met.

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Qualifications Steering Group last reported to the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board.

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the National Qualifications Steering Group has made to the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board regarding the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and the relevant timeframe.

Michael Russell: The National Qualifications Steering Group (NQSG) last met on 18 February 2009. The Group’s role in providing the Scottish Government with advice on the development of National Qualifications has been subsumed within (a) the expanded role, remit and membership of the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board and its sub-group: the Qualifications Governing Group and (b) the governance processes established by the Scottish Qualifications Authority for the development of the new qualifications. A separate Stakeholder Group also provides advice to the Scottish Government on issues related to Curriculum for Excellence. These groups are covering the interests of NQSG members.

Emergency Services

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many attacks there were on emergency workers while on duty in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08, broken down by local authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: The police recorded crime statistics collected centrally are based on an aggregate return and do not record the occupation of the victim. However, following the introduction of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act in 2005, a new distinct crime classification of "Minor assault of an emergency workers" was created.

  The following table shows the number of minor assaults on emergency workers for 2006-07 and 2007-08, in each local authority area. The data for Fife also includes minor Assaults on police officers. All other police forces have recorded minor assault of a police officer in 2006-07 and 2007-08 under the crime of minor assault.

  Offences of Minor Assault of an Emergency Worker Recorded by the Police by Local Authority Area, 2006-07 and 2007-08

  

 Local Authority Area
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Aberdeen City
 10
 9


 Aberdeenshire
 2
 2


 Angus
 0
 0


 Argyll and Bute
 4
 3


 Clackmannanshire
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2
 8


 Dundee City
 0
 0


 East Ayrshire
 12
 12


 East Dunbartonshire
 2
 0


 East Lothian
 3
 1


 East Renfrewshire
 0
 3


 Edinburgh, City of 
 42
 48


 Eilean Siar
 0
 0


 Falkirk
 0
 0


 Fife
 436
 452


 Glasgow City
 117
 103


 Highland
 0
 0


 Inverclyde
 8
 9


 Midlothian
 4
 2


 Moray
 6
 3


 North Ayrshire
 7
 9


 North Lanarkshire
 5
 19


 Orkney Islands
 0
 0


 Perth and Kinross
 0
 0


 Renfrewshire
 9
 23


 Scottish Borders
 23
 14


 Shetland Islands
 0
 0


 South Ayrshire
 8
 4


 South Lanarkshire
 13
 15


 Stirling
 0
 0


 West Dunbartonshire
 4
 5


 West Lothian
 6
 9


 Scotland
 723
 753



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  All serious assaults are recorded under a separate crime classification. However, the Scottish Government does not hold the number of serious assaults on emergency workers as the occupation of the victim is not held centrally.

Gypsies/Travellers

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the October 2007 evaluation of the Gypsy/Traveller Site Grant, whether it will conduct a full evaluation into the use of the grant and, if so, whether the views of site residents will be taken into account.

Alex Neil: As we are still monitoring the Gypsy/Traveller Site Grant funding, we do not intend to do a full evaluation of the site grant at this stage.

Gypsies/Travellers

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of applications for the (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 funding rounds of the Gypsy/Traveller Site Grant including which local authorities (a) submitted applications and (b) were awarded grants and how much was awarded in each case.

Alex Neil: Applications for 2008-09 and 2009-10 funding were invited at the same time and include the following:

  

 Local Authorities that Submitted Applications
 Successful/Unsuccessful
 Award


 Aberdeen City Council Bid 1
 Unsuccessful
 


 Aberdeen City Council Bid 2
 Unsuccessful
 


 Aberdeen City Council Bid 3
 Successful
£163,737


 Argyll and Bute Council
 Successful
£240,000


 Clackmannanshire Council
 Successful
£84,182


 City of Edinburgh Council
 Unsuccessful
 


 Dundee City Council
 Successful
£172,500


 East Lothian Council & Midlothian Council (joint bid)
 Successful
£490,000


 Falkirk Council
 Successful
£138,825


 Fife Council Bid 1
 Unsuccessful
 


 Fife Council Bid 2
 Unsuccessful
 


 Fife Council Bid 3
 Unsuccessful
 


 Highland Council Bid 1
 Successful
£330,000


 Highland Council Bid 2
 Unsuccessful
 


 Perth and Kinross Council Bid 1
 Successful
£114,000


 Perth and Kinross Council Bid 2
 Unsuccessful
 


 South Ayrshire Council Bid 1
 Successful
£81,375*


 South Ayrshire Council Bid 2
 Unsuccessful
 


 South Lanarkshire Council Bid 1
 Unsuccessful
 


 South Lanarkshire Council Bid 2
 Successful
£87,837


 Stirling Council
 Successful
£93,000


 West Lothian Council
 Successful
£51,043.50


 Total
 
£2,046,499.50** 



  Notes:

  *The funding for this transit site bid has been provided by the Equality Unit.

  **Previous commitment to Fife Council of £34,875 from 2007-08 will also be funded from the £2 million available budget.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29995 by Shona Robison on 18 January 2010, whether a decision has been made on the future funding of the two muscular dystrophy care advisors.

Shona Robison: I understand that the longer-term funding of these posts will now be provided by the NHS.

Health

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many diagnoses of tuberculosis there were in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: Surveillance of tuberculosis in Scotland through the Enhanced Surveillance of Mycobacterial Infection (ESMI) scheme at Health Protection Scotland has been underway since 2000. The follow up of each case of tuberculosis takes one year from the patient’s date of notification. The last complete year of validated and published data is that of 2008.

  The data requested for the number of tuberculosis cases by NHS board as notified to ESMI, 2004-08, is shown in the following table.

  

 NHS Board
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008*


 Argyll and Clyde†
 17
 30
 0
 0
 0


 Ayrshire and Arran
 6
 6
 13
 13
 8


 Borders 
 3
 1
 7
 4
 5


 Dumfries and Galloway 
 6
 5
 4
 6
 4


 Fife 
 15
 15
 13
 7
 11


 Forth Valley
 5
 4
 4
 18
 10


 Grampian 
 22
 23
 36
 41
 38


 Greater Glasgow†
 174
 161
 178
 188
 218


 Highland†
 8
 11
 9
 8
 13


 Lanarkshire
 35
 25
 51
 27
 31


 Lothian 
 84
 75
 55
 73
 86


 Orkney
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Shetland
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Tayside 
 16
 7
 11
 22
 25


 Western Isles
 1
 1
 0
 1
 3


 Scotland
 392
 365
 381
 408
 452



  Source Health Protection Scotland (HPS).

  Notes:

  Data is taken from the last published TB annual report for Scotland (December 2009).

  *2008 data are provisional and may be subject to change.

  †1 April 2006 saw the dissolution of NHS Argyle and Clyde. These figures represent the number of cases and incidence in the new NHS board areas from 2006 onwards. Greater Glasgow is now known as Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Health

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence rate per 100,000 population was for tuberculosis in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: Surveillance of tuberculosis in Scotland through the Enhanced Surveillance of Mycobacterial Infection (ESMI) scheme at Health Protection Scotland has been underway since 2000. The follow up of each case of tuberculosis takes one year from the patient’s date of notification. The last complete year of validated and published data is that of 2008.

  The data requested for incidence+ of tuberculosis by NHS board as notified to ESMI, 2004-08, is shown in the following table.

  

 NHS Board
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008*


 Argyll and Clyde†
 4.1
 7.2
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0


 Ayrshire and Arran
 1.6
 1.6
 3.5
 3.5
 2.2


 Borders 
 2.7
 0.9
 6.3
 3.6
 4.4


 Dumfries and Galloway 
 4.1
 3.4
 2.7
 4.0
 2.7


 Fife 
 4.2
 4.2
 3.6
 1.9
 3.0


 Forth Valley
 1.8
 1.4
 1.4
 6.2
 3.4


 Grampian 
 4.2
 4.4
 6.8
 7.7
 7.0


 Greater Glasgow†
 20.1
 18.6
 14.9
 15.8
 18.2


 Highland†
 3.8
 5.2
 2.9
 2.6
 4.2


 Lanarkshire
 6.3
 4.5
 9.1
 4.8
 5.5


 Lothian 
 10.7
 9.5
 6.9
 9.0
 10.5


 Orkney
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0


 Shetland
 0.0
 4.5
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0


 Tayside 
 4.1
 1.8
 2.8
 5.6
 6.3


 Western Isles
 3.8
 3.8
 0.0
 3.8
 11.5


 Scotland
 7.7
 7.2
 7.4
 7.9
 8.7



  Source: Health Protection Scotland (HPS).

  Notes:

  Data is taken from the last published TB annual report for Scotland (December 2009).

  *2008 data are provisional and may be subject to change.

  †1 April 2006 saw the dissolution of NHS Argyle and Clyde. These figures represent the number of cases and incidence in the new NHS board areas from 2006 onwards. Greater Glasgow is now known as Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

  +Incidence is per 100,000 population. Population statistics are taken from the GRO official publications

Hedges

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the analysis of responses to its consultation on high hedges and other nuisance vegetation.

Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-9657 on 25 January 2010 which is available on the Parliament’s website, and can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-10/sor0225-02.htm#Col24054.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative methods of funding to tuition fees will form part of its debate on the future of university funding.

Michael Russell: I have suggested that all alternative solutions to tuition fees should be fully explored in the debate.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 7,701 units provided by the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009 were off-the-shelf purchases from private developers, broken down by local authority.

Alex Neil: The following table provides details of how many of the 7,701 units provided by the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009 that were off-the-shelf purchases from private developers, broken down by local authority.

  

 
 Off-the-Shelf Purchases


 Scotland
 1,856


 Aberdeen City
 86


 Aberdeenshire
 18


 Angus
 9


 Argyll and Bute
 5


 Clackmannanshire
 4


 Dumfries and Galloway
 39


 Dundee City
 14


 East Ayrshire
 11


 East Dunbartonshire
 22


 East Lothian
 108


 East Renfrewshire
 12


 Edinburgh, City of
 455


 Eilean Siar
 1


 Falkirk
 20


 Fife
 60


 Glasgow City
 222


 Highland
 114


 Inverclyde
 15


 Midlothian
 105


 Moray
 1


 North Ayrshire
 15


 North Lanarkshire
 60


 Orkney
 5


 Perth and Kinross
 45


 Renfrewshire
 11


 Scottish Borders, The
 20


 Shetland
 0


 South Ayrshire
 25


 South Lanarkshire
 42


 Stirling
 38


 West Dunbartonshire
 17


 West Lothian
 257

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were arrested for possession of child pornography in the Lothians region in each of the last five years, broken down by police force.

Kenny MacAskill: Information on the number of arrests made by the police is not held centrally, only the number of crimes recorded and cleared up.

  The following table shows the number of possession of obscene materials offences1 recorded by the police in the Lothian and Borders police force area, broken down by local authority, 2004-05 to 2008-09:

  

 
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-072
 2007-08
 2008-09


 City of Edinburgh
 6
 158
 123
 137
 138


 East Lothian
 0
 10
 5
 23
 13


 Midlothian
 0
 15
 59
 27
 16


 West Lothian
 10
 62
 27
 37
 37


 Scottish Borders
 0
 33
 14
 17
 11


 Lothian and Borders police force area
 16
 278
 228
 241
 215



  Notes:

  1. Offences include handling obscene material (not specifically related to children) and taking, distributing and possessing indecent photos of children.

  2. Offence of taking, distributing and possessing indecent photos of children came into force in 2006-07.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what disposals were applied to people convicted of possession of child pornography in the Lothians region in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.

  Persons with a charge proved in Scottish courts for offences under sections 52 or 52A of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 19821, in Lothians region, by sheriff court, 2004-05 to 2008-09:

  

 Sheriff Court/Disposal
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08
 2008-09


 Edinburgh
 
 
 
 
 


 Community Service Order
 2
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Fine
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Imprisonment
 4
 8
 4
 1
 9


 Probation
 1
 0
 1
 3
 2


 Probation & CSO
 5
 2
 1
 2
 2


 Total
 13
 10
 6
 7
 14


 Haddington
 
 
 
 
 


 Imprisonment
 1
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Total
 1
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Linlithgow
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0


 Fine
 
 
 
 
 


 Imprisonment
 0
 0
 1
 0
 4


 Probation
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Probation & CSO
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0


 Total
 1
 4
 2
 0
 5


 All Lothians sheriff courts
 
 
 
 
 


 Community Service Order
 2
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Fine
 1
 2
 0
 0
 1


 Imprisonment
 5
 8
 6
 1
 13


 Probation
 2
 0
 2
 3
 3


 Probation & CSO
 5
 4
 1
 2
 2


 Total
 15
 14
 9
 7
 19



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

Justice

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the guidelines are when making a decision as to whether a (a) police officer, (b) member of the fire brigade and (c) prison officer is suspended or given restricted duties following an official charge being brought against them.

Kenny MacAskill: (a) Police officers hold the office of constable and are not covered by standard employment legislation. As "office holders" they require their terms and conditions to be set out in regulations.

  When a police officer has an official charge brought against them they may be suspended under the Police (Conduct) (Scotland) Regulation 1996. The regulations state that an officer may be suspended from duty where they may have committed an act or omission that may amount to misconduct or where they may have committed a criminal offence.

  Guidance was issued by the Scottish Government, within Police Circular 7 of 1996, on the arrangements introduced in the regulations.

  Where an officer has an official charge brought against them, the decision to suspend an officer or place them on restricted duties is an operational matter for the relevant Deputy Chief Constable, given the circumstances of the particular case.

  (b) The decision as to whether a member of the fire brigade is suspended or given restricted duties following an official charge brought against them is an employment matter and entirely a matter for employers.

  (c) Guidance on whether a Prison Officer should be suspended or given restricted/alternative duties whilst matters are is investigated is expressed in the relevant Section (Section 6, 6.10) of the Scottish Prison Service Employee Code of Conduct ("The Code") which deals with Gross Misconduct.

  The Code states: The governor in charge, head of branch or directorate, will consider whether it is appropriate to suspend the employee, whilst an investigation is carried out. Suspension will only be used in exceptional circumstances e.g. where the alleged offence, if proven, may result in dismissal and/or where the interests of the employee or the organisation would be best served by the suspension.

  Additional further guidance was issued to all HR Managers on 9 and 10 February 2010. This guidance advised that instances such as allegations/charges (whether internal or external) relating to sexual impropriety, violence, theft, drug trafficking etc, may; for reasons of reputational damage, potential risk to staff or prisoners, and to safeguard the interest of the accused; merit suspension.

Justice

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many serving police officers are on restricted duties as a result of a charge being brought against them.

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many serving police officers are currently suspended as a result of a charge being brought against them.

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many serving police officers are on restricted duties as a result of a charge being brought against them in relation to rape or a sexual assault.

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many serving police officers are currently suspended as a result of a charge being brought against them in relation to rape or a sexual assault.

Kenny MacAskill: The decision to suspend a police officer, or to place them on restricted duties, following an official charge being brought against them, is a matter for the relevant chief constable. The Scottish Government does not collect information on the number of police officers who are suspended or placed on restricted duties.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the (a) estimated capital value and (b) timescale of the replacement prison at Low Moss compares with the original project cost and timescale estimates.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  As the original project was terminated prior to the receipt of bids, the estimated capital value and timescales associated with that project are not known.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what crimes and offences in relation to which a custodial sentence of six months or less can currently be imposed it considers should not incur a custodial sentence.

Kenny MacAskill: The principle of judicial independence is a fundamental cornerstone of the Scottish justice system. In bringing forward the proposals to create a presumption against sentences of six months or less, contained in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill, the Scottish Government is upholding this principle. The presumption does not take the form of identifying particular crimes which should not receive a custodial sentence of six months or less. Individual sentencing decisions are for the courts, taking into account all the circumstances of the case before them.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences of wasting police time were committed in each year since 1999 in the Lothian and Borders police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The following table shows the number of offences of wasting police time recorded by the police 1 :

  

 Lothian and Borders


 1999-2000
 132


 2000-01
 166


 2001-02
 160


 2002-03
 144


 2003-04
 171


 2004-05
 151


 2005-06
 116


 2006-07
 151


 2007-08
 157


 2008-09
 153



  Note: 1. Figures are shown for the offence of public mischief, which includes, but is not restricted to, wasting police time.

Local Authorities Public Information Notices Consultation

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the Local Authorities Public Information Notices Consultation.

John Swinney: The public consultation on the Local Authority Public Information Notices (Electronic Publication) (Scotland) Order 2010 received 141 responses of which 24 were in support and 117 against. We have decided not to proceed with the legislative changes at this time. We will however continue working with COSLA, local government and the wider public sector to support the use of the online portal to supplement the press adverts and to bring the additional benefits the portal offers to the users.

Media

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism in the debate on the local newspaper industry on 28 January 2010 "He should be aware that I have met representatives from the sector to discuss these and other national issues on six occasions. The First Minister has also been involved." ( Official Report c. 23195), when and how the First Minister was involved.

Jim Mather: Following my meeting on 26 February 2009 (see S3W-31356 answered on 2 March 2010), the First Minister met representatives of the Council of the Scottish Daily Newspaper Society which included Tim Blott, Managing Director Herald and Times, Jim Raeburn, Scottish Daily Newspaper Society and Michael Johnston, Managing Director, Scotsman, and Simon Fairclough, who represented the Scottish Newspapers Publishers Association.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Ministerial Meetings

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions (a) the First Minister and (b) each Scottish minister has had a meeting with Aamer Anwar and what subjects were discussed in each case.

John Swinney: No Scottish minister in a ministerial capacity, including First Minister, has had a meeting with Aamer Anwar. However, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Justice took part in the recent Scotland United rallies against racism in Glasgow and Edinburgh along with Aamer Anwar and others.

Ministerial Travel

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31753 by John Swinney on 8 March 2010, whether account is taken of the effect on global warming when ministers decide to use the Government Car Service rather than public transport.

John Swinney: Yes. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32333, on 16 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Prison Service

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the average occupancy rate at HMP Kilmarnock over the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The average occupancy at HMP Kilmarnock from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2009 was as follows:

  2005 – 543

  2006 – 597

  2007 – 633

  2008 – 639

  2009 – 552.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average level of qualification held by an offender is on admission to prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS does not have this information.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average level of qualification held by an offender is on departure from prison.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of prisoners undertook at least one Scottish Qualifications Authority qualification during their sentence in each of the last three years, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS does not hold this information.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts it has made to encourage offenders serving custodial sentences to undertake Scottish Qualifications Authority qualifications while in prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Prisoners are able to undertake Scottish Qualifications Authority qualifications through the prison education units and the vocational training and work areas in prisons. Attendance at vocational training is regarded a prisoner work party and prisoners will be timetabled to attend. Attendance at the education unit is voluntary and prisoners are encouraged to attend.

  Extensive promotional material is circulated around the prisons areas. If a prisoner signs up to attend the education unit this will be timetabled and programmed into their week.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30602 by Kenny MacAskill on 11 January 2010, how many Scottish Qualifications Authority units were achieved by prisoners in each of the last three years, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The number of Scottish Qualification Authority units achieved by prisoners in each of the last three financial years is as follows:

  

 Prison
 2006-07
 2007-08
 2008-09


 Aberdeen
 141
 209
 152


 Addiewell
 N/A
 N/A
 20


 Barlinnie
 475
 887
 1,656


 Cornton Vale
 179
 272
 223


 Dumfries
 123
 288
 374


 Edinburgh
 743
 813
 827


 Glenochil
 855
 685
 668


 Greenock
 411
 185
 695


 Inverness
 218
 189
 152


 Kilmarnock
 141
 172
 133


 Open Estate
 508
 610
 849


 Perth
 540
 652
 1,101


 Peterhead
 168
 368
 202


 Polmont
 609
 767
 685


 Shotts
 236
 254
 221


 Totals
 5,347
 6,351
 7,958

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average daily prison population was in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table provides the average daily population broken down by establishment.

  

 Establishments
 2007
 2008
 2009


 Aberdeen
 232
 237
 230


 Addiewell
 0
 28
 639


 Cornton Vale
 350
 398
 390


 Barlinnie
 1,462
 1,568
 1,436


 Dumfries
 203
 204
 194


 Edinburgh
 785
 842
 870


 Glenochil 
 573
 720
 678


 Greenock
 314
 316
 271


 Inverness
 147
 150
 147


 Kilmarnock
 633
 640
 551


 Open Estate
 436
 379
 282


 Perth
 512
 753
 698


 Peterhead
 305
 305
 305


 Polmont
 657
 685
 699


 Shotts
 531
 541
 537


 Average Totals
 7,140
 7,766
 7,927

Procurement

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of public sector contracts was awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in 2009, broken down by value of contract.

John Swinney: We do not hold information on the number of contracts awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Scottish Procurement Information Hub does however hold information on the proportion of public procurement spending with SMEs. In 2007-08 (the most recent financial year for which complete data is available on the hub), 49% of public procurement spending, by value, was with SMEs.

Renewable Energy

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration will be given to the overall balance of greenhouse gas emissions and savings from the development of offshore renewable energy, including emissions from manufacture, transport, construction, seabed disturbance, operation, maintenance and decommissioning, when assessing (a) individual applications for consent and (b) the contribution of offshore renewable energy to meeting the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 targets for emissions reductions.

Jim Mather: (a) As part of an individual application for consent developers are required to submit an Environmental Statement. The associated assessment is subject to wide ranging consultation with statutory bodies and other affected stakeholders.

  To assist Scottish ministers in making a determination on an application developers are invited to produce a statement of expected carbon savings over the lifetime of the associated application. Emissions from the various stages of manufacture and deployment will be accounted for under the NSEA as outlined in part (b) to this answer.

  (b) The Net Scottish Emissions Account (NSEA), which will be used to measure the targets in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act, measures Scottish emissions using a production-based methodology. Emissions are attributed to the sector in which the production of the greenhouse gas takes place, so that emissions from electricity use are attributed to power stations, and direct (non-electrical) emissions from the manufacture (in Scotland) of wind turbines would be attributed to the industry that manufactures them. Direct emissions from, for example, the transport and construction of turbines are captured in the transport and construction sectors respectively.

  Emissions from electricity generation fall within the traded sector and are included in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). For consistency with international accounting methodologies, the NSEA will record emissions from this sector as Scotland’s share of the declining cap set by the EU ETS, regardless of total electricity production or the amount of renewable electricity. However, as made clear in the recent advice from the Committee on Climate Change, meeting the target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050 will require early decarbonisation of the power sector. Renewable electricity, through displacing fossil fuelled generation, plays a crucial role in achieving this.

  The Scottish Government’s Report on Policies and Proposals, to be published in September 2010, is required to set out how Scotland will meet its annual targets from 2010 to 2022 and the interim target for 2020. The report must consider the contribution towards the annual targets that should be made by electricity generation (among other activities).

  The Climate Change (Scotland) Act also requires ministers to report separately on emissions attributable to the consumption and use of goods and services in Scotland.

Renewable Energy

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31315 by Jim Mather on 1 February 2010, what the value was of the further private investment from the Shell Technology Ventures Fund in AWS Ocean Energy Ltd.

Jim Mather: The £2 million investment announced as secured recently by AWS Ocean Energy comprised a contribution of £920,000 from Scottish Enterprise’s Co-investment Fund, with the balance coming from the Shell Technology Ventures Fund.

Residential Care

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that care home managers are trained to identify and treat malnutrition in residents.

Shona Robison: There is a statutory requirement on care home providers to ensure that at all times suitably qualified and competent persons are working in the service to meet the health and welfare of service users. The National Care Standards – Care Homes for Older People require that the provider is aware of the nutritional state of residents and will arrange for this to be regularly assessed and reviewed. The Care Commission works with care providers to improve the quality of care and inspects against care standards and legislation.

  The Scottish Government is committed to improving nutrition for older people in care homes and to help deliver on this commitment funded the Promoting Nutrition in Care Homes Project. The project trained care home staff in ways to improve nutrition, food and eating practices. The Care Commission evaluated the project and published a report in 2009. The Scottish Government now plans to build on the project for the further benefit of older people in care homes.

Sex Offenders

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27415 by Kenny MacAskill on 28 September 2009, when it expects to (a) announce details and (b) roll out the new Sex Offender Treatment Programme.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The revised sex offender treatment programme is in the final stages of development. Plans are well underway for the new programme to be piloted in HMP Peterhead this coming financial year. Roll out to other establishments will be considered further once the piloting of the programme in HMP Peterhead is complete. Details of the new programme will be announced prior to the initial implementation in June 2010.

UN Climate Change Conference

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers and officials visited Copenhagen at the time of the UN Climate Change Conference; what mode and class of transport they used; what meetings they attended, and what the total cost was.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many officials accompanied the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on his visit to Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference; what the mode and class of travel was in each case, and what the total cost was.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many officials attended the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings ministers and officials attended at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, broken down by (a) meeting and (b) attendees.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was for each (a) minister and (b) official of (i) travel to and (ii) accommodation at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many officials accompanied the First Minister on his visit to Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference; what the mode and class of travel was in each case, and what the total cost was.

Stewart Stevenson: The First Minister and the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change represented Scotland in Copenhagen during the UN Climate Change conference in December 2009 to promote Scotland’s world-leading targets set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. The First Minister took part in a number of activities and meetings including signing a joint statement with President Nasheed of the Maldives and addressed The Climate Group’s Climate Leaders Summit of over 60 state and regional government ministers. He also held a number of other meetings including with the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance and DONG Energy, a major Danish energy company. The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change hosted Scotland’s Low Carbon Mission event with keynote speaker Mary Robinson, and met Joan Ruddock MP Minister of State and held bilateral business meetings with Ministers from New Zealand, Baden-Württemberg and Ontario amongst others. He also attended a meeting of the UN Conference of the Parties.

  The First Minister, the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change and 10 Scottish Government officials travelled by business or economy flights, which are subject to a Scottish Government carbon levy. It is the policy of the Scottish Government to proactively publish the costs of ministerial overseas travel, accommodation and expenses and ministers’ costs for Copenhagen are available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/international-action/Copenhagen/costs.

UN Climate Change Conference

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive from whom the invitation to the First Minister to attend the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen was received; who the organisers were of the events that he attended in Copenhagen, and what is being done to follow up issues discussed during the visit.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29975 on 17 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  The Scottish Government will continue to work with the EU, UK Government, The Climate Group and bilateral contacts made at Copenhagen to help influence the international community to agree ambitious action on climate change.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliamentary Expenditure

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the operating costs for the Parliament were in each of the last four years.

Tom McCabe: The costs are shown in the following table. The costs exclude non cash items such as depreciation, notional cost of capital and technical accounting adjustments.

  

 Year
 Operating Costs (£000)


 2008-09
 70,602


 2007-08
 66,011


 2006-07
 63,702


 2005-06
 61,434